October 2018 Is ADHD Awareness Month

The Norwalk Board of Education recognizes October as National ADHD Awareness Month to bring awareness to the issues surrounding Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.

The theme of this year’s ADHD Awareness Month is “Setting The Record Straight.” Armed with information about ADHD and research-supported practices, life can be better for those living with or affected by ADHD.

ADHD is a chronic neurobiological disorder, affecting both children and adults, that can significantly interfere with an individual’s ability to regulate activity level, inhibit behavior, and attend to tasks in developmentally-appropriate ways. The terms ADHD and ADD both refer to the same disorder, with the only difference being that some people have attention deficit and hyperactivity, while others do not.

A lack of public knowledge and understanding of the disorder play a significant role in the overwhelming numbers of untreated cases of ADHD, while the dissemination of inaccurate information contributes to the obstacles preventing diagnosis and treatment.

ADHD affects people of every age, gender, IQ, and social-economic background. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the percentage of children in the United States who have ever been diagnosed with ADHD is now 9.5 percent. Boys are diagnosed two to three times as often as girls.

We know that failure to accommodate and understand ADHD in school can have negative effects on learning and social performance. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors or be overly active. Children with ADHD are often faced with a number of simultaneous challenges, including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and more.

However, when children, teens, and adults are diagnosed early and receive treatment, they can lead more fulfilling lives.

Through the education of healthcare professionals, employers and educators, proper diagnosis and treatment can substantially increase the quality of life for those affected by ADHD. By declaring this ADHD Awareness Month, the Board of Education encourages the community to reflect on this disorder and to seek out information that will help them to understand and appreciate the challenges that their fellow students are facing.